Skillfully fusing the aesthetics of black metal with the atmospherics of post-rock in order to create a soundscape that is both breathtaking and mesmerizing, Norwegian blackgazers AVAST are set to release their debut full-length album Mother Culture on October 26th through Dark Essence Records.

Hailing from Stavanger, Norway, AVAST consists of Hans Olaf Myrvang (AGENDA) on bass and vocals, Trond Salte (AGENDA) and Ørjan Lund (NAG) on guitars, and Stian Steensnæs (LIK) on drums, AVAST is a band that reviewers and promoters place in a variety of genres. Whilst the band’s roots lie in punk rock and hardcore, it would be safe to say that blackgaze and post-black metal are genres that could be applied to AVAST, given that AVAST’s lyrical themes are not centered around the usual black metal topics, but tend more towards a philosophical and poetical take on social and environmental issues.

The members of AVAST themselves describe Mother Culture as “a concept album that examines the myths upon which modern civilization is based”, and “an apocalyptic tale about the rise and fall of human civilization, and how we have exploited the Earth’s resources to such a degree that we are now standing on the brink of our own extinction. Musically the record borrows equally from the black metal and post-rock genres, and lyrically it draws inspiration from Daniel Quinn’s philosophical novel Ishmael.”

With artwork by Ole Nymoen, the track-listing for Mother Culture is as follows:

Mother Culture

The Myth

Birth of Man

The World Belongs to Man

An Earnest Desire

Man Belongs to the World

Mother Culture will be released in CD, Digital and limited edition white vinyl formats, and is now available to pre-order from:

With their seventh full-length album “Marrow” set to be released on Dark Essence Records on the 21 September, Norwegian Alternative Metallers MADDER MORTEM have released a new video for a track from the album.

Titled “Far From Home” the symbol-laden video is by the noted Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu and can be seen below and at https://youtu.be/8DIDksyQJUk

About “Far From Home”, the band commented that the track “grew out of an early morning’s vocals idea, and into a very Madder song. Everything we love is here: contrasts and melody, fragility and heaviness, anguish and hope. The lyrics are about a long night’s uneasy journey into day, about the gut-wrenching worry that rides on the back of truly caring for someone”.

Regarding the video itself, and the collaboration with Chioreanu, who has a long-standing history with Dark Essence Records and the Norwegian music scene, Madder Mortem went on to say:

“When we approached artist Costin Chioreanu about creating the video for “Far From Home”, we gave him the music, the lyrics, and otherwise an absolutely free rein. The result is his unique interpretation of the song and the feeling, and when we first saw it, we were all tearing up. Costin gave the song another dimension, and we are so grateful to him for expanding our music into the visual realm”.

As an album, the eleven-track “Marrow” is complex, covering a wide variety of genres and sounds that range from moments of folk/prog to avant-garde. From delicate ballads to harsh metal, it is more doomy than its predecessor “Red in Tooth and Claw”, as well as being at times both heavier, and catchier. It is, according to the band “about sticking to the essence of yourself. Your ideas, your thoughts, your values”.

“Marrow” comes in CD Digipak, Digital and Limited Edition transparent green vinyl and is available from all the usual sellers, or can be ordered from the following:

Dark Essence Records have set the 22nd September as the release date for “Over Phlegethon”, the debut full-length album from FIVE THE HIEROPHANT, who recently signed to the Norwegian label, known for its uncanny ability to sniff out promising new talent to add to its roster of established and iconic bands.

With “Over Phlegethon”, the UK Trio have brought the full weight of their ritualistic soundscapes to bear. It is a dark and devastating album, imbued with Psychedelic Black Metal, Jazz, Post Metal and Ambient, all of which, combined with the band’s trademark heavy riffs, drone-like atmospheres and a Black Metal intensity, reveal a sound and atmosphere that is unique to FIVE THE HIEROPHANT.

This uniqueness if further emphasized by the unusual array of instruments used by the band, whose lineup is composed of Chris on drums, temple bells, djembe, shakers and gong, Mitch on bass and effects, and महाकाली on guitars, bowed guitars, rag-dung, violin and grand piano noise.

“Over Phlegethon” was recorded and mixed at Scream Studios in London. The cover art for the album is a painting entitled “Dust Lickers” by Odd Nerdrum. Track listing is as follows:

The choice of “Wolf” as the first track from the album to be debuted is explained by founder and frontman Ese: “Wolf was one of the first songs that surfaced when I started writing material for “Vidsyn”. It’s adrenalin-charged and with its loping time signature and riffs this track circles in on its prey like the Canis Lupus itself”.

SLEGEST’s sound owes as much to Black Metal as it does to Heavy Metal, and bands like BLACK SABBATH. There is a distinct swagger and confidence to the band, the kind that lies at the heart of all things Metal, and SLEGESTS use of superb guitar riffing and great melodies make it stand out from the usual speed merchants.

“Vidsyn”, which features a guest appearance by ENSLAVED’s Grutle Kjellson, was recorded at the Conclave & Earshot and Systrond Studios, and was jointly produced by Ese and Bjørnar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR), who also mixed the album. Mastering is by Herbrand Larsen (ENSLAVED).

The cover of “Vidsyn” once again has its roots in the art of Nikolai Astrup. The drawing is by Lars Hellebø and the design by Tom Korsvold. Tracklisting as follows

SLEGEST will launch “Vidsyn” with a show at Krøsset in Oslo, on the 12th November, where they will be joined by ALFAHANNE, and, given the dynamism and sheer entertainment value of the two bands, this will be an evening to remember.

In December of this year the band will join SHINING’s 20th Anniversary tour, which also features Dark Essence label mates TAAKE, for a series of European dates. The prospect of sharing a stage with Niklas Kvarforth and Hoest, widely acknowledged to be two of the most accomplished and exciting front men in extreme metal, would seem daunting to most bands, but judging from the reviews SLEGEST has received for its live performances, and from the number of fans the lineup of Ese on Vocals and Rhythm Guitars, Sør (BÄÄÄV, VONBRÅTEN) on Lead Guitars, Hövard (BOMBEKLÜCHTER) on Bass and Fjøsne on Drums, has picked up following those performances, this is a band that is more than able to hold its own against the two titans.

Over four years have passed since HELHEIM released their last album, and now the veteran Norwegian Viking metallers are set to release their eighth full-length album on the 4th December on Dark Essence Records. Titled “raunijaR”, the album was recorded at Conclave & Earshot Studio by VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ Bjørnar Nilsen and was mastered by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen.

In the intervening years between 2011’s critically acclaimed “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr” and the upcoming release of “raunijaR” , HELHEIM have been both experimenting with, and building on, their unique take on the Viking Metal genre. As well as completing the themes that have woven their way through HELHEIM’s music since the very beginning, it is with “raunijaR” that the band completes the “Åsgards Fall ” storyline that began with the EP of that name in 2010.

HELHEIM’s lineup comprises V’gandr on bass and vocals, H’grimnir on guitar and vocals, Hrymr on drums and Noralf on guitars. V’gandr himself has been expanding and perfecting his clean vocals, and now, when the two vocalists combine to sing clean vocals new elements are added to the band’s sound. Guest vocals on “raunijaR” come from ALFAHANNE’s Pehr Skjoldhammer and Norwegian musician William Hut, with additional guests performing on violin, piano and horns to further enhance HELHEIM’s dark and heavy atmospheres and create a truly epic masterpiece.

Artwork is by H’grimnir of www.coverart.no. Track listing on “raunijaR” as follows:

Commenting on “raunijaR” V’gandr had this to say: “The opening track “Helheim 9” is actually the last in the line of the HELHEIM tracks where Hrymr in particular has been the creative force. He has combined his unique creativity and symbolism in a way that overwhelms everything that came before, and the result is a truly fitting closure.

“The title track “raunijaR” continues on from Helheim’s “Heiðindómr ok Mótgangr”, and has a relentlessly driving sound that showcases the confrontational, yet familiar, black metal sound in the vein of “Dualitet og Ulver”. “Åsgards Fall” Parts 3 and 4 will be the final and vital link in the completion of the theme that was begun in both lyrical and musical terms with the “Åsgards Fall” MCD. Closing the album is “Odr”, a solemn track that gives the album an ending full of the grandeur and respect that it deserves.”

In November HELHEIM will make a special appearance at BlekkMetal Festival which runs from the 13th to the 15th November at USF Verftet in Bergen. The one-off event is billed as a tribute to the birth of the Norwegian Black Metal scene, and will hark back to the atmosphere, bands, art and individuals from the scene pre 1994. HELHEIM will perform their debut album “Jormundgand” on Saturday 14th to mark the 20th Anniversary of its release. They will also be interviewed live on stage along with ENSLAVED, and will be discussing how their lyrical narratives and their musical craft have been influenced by their Viking roots and traditions.

Included on the BlekkMEtal bill are veteran bands such as TAAKE, KAMPFAR, AETERNUS, HADES ALMIGHTY, GEHENNA, ENSLAVED, and brand new bands such GAAHLS WYRD, and a special onetime only reunion of the legendary OLD FUNERAL. Also appearing will be The C.L.A.S.P. Ritual /Dirge Rep – a tribute band consisting of legendary musicians such as Dirge Rep himself, Skagg, Gaahl, Garm and many more.

Some of the top Norwegian tattoo artists will be present at the event, and will be available for appointments, including, Colin Dale, Kai Uwe Faust and Tor Ola Svennevig, three Viking tattooists who work entirely by hand, without the use of machines. Art exhibitions, movies and guest speakers will also be featured at the event. More information about the BlekkMetal Festival, as well as ticket details can be found at www.blekkmetal.com

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS invites you to attend our annual listening session where we present our fall 2015 album releases. As always our listening session take place as a part of the official program during the Beyond the Gates Festival taking place during the last weekend of August in Bergen Norway.

We will be presenting tracks from the upcoming albums from ALFAHANNE, ORKAN, 3rd ATTEMPT and LUCIFER’S CHILD and more. And most likely more good stuff too!

The listening session is open for all – not just the festival audience at Beyond the Gates.
Hope to see you there!

When KRAKOW walked into the Solslottet and Duper Studio with producer Iver Sandøy to record what would become “amaran”, their 3rd full-length album, they had a total of ten tracks in mind – seven of which made it onto the finished album. The remaining three tracks proved to be perfect examples of the more aggressive and direct side of the band, but did not really fit in with the overall atmosphere of the album, so they were put to one side, ready to be used when the time was right, whilst everyone sat back and watched the plaudits come rolling in when “amaran” hit the streets in February of 2015 on Dark Essence Records.

And the time is now right to let the fans hear those three, never-before heard, tracks . Dark Essence will release them, together with the track “genesis” from “amaran” on the 7th August as a 7″ EP, which will be strictly limited to 300 copies, as well as in digital format. The EP, which is titled “genesis” will hit the streets just in time for the band’s appearance at Oslo’s Øya Festival on Saturday 15 August, and is now available to pre-order from http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/artist/krakow

Artwork for the “Genesis” is by Thomas Hooper. Track listing as follows:

Formed in 2005 in Bergen, Norway, and with a recent European tour with titans ARCTURUS under their belts, KRAKOW is now regarded as one Norway’s best live acts. The band’s lineup consists of with Kjartan Grønhaug on guitars, René Misje on guitars and vocals, Frode Kilvik (AETERNUS, VITHR) on vocals and bass, and Ask Ty Arctander (KAMPFAR) on drums.

HORNA frontman Spellgoth will be joining KVELERTAK’s Erlend Hjelvik, SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, and SORHIN’s Nattfursth on the upcoming album from Swedish “Alfapokalyptic” Rockers ALFHANNE, who, together with their label Dark Essence Records, have been running a competition over the past couple of months, inviting fans to guess the guests and win a copy of the new album.

“The competition has been a lot of fun for us” commented the band, “and hopefully the fans have enjoyed it too – we’ve certainly been receiving entries from all parts of the world. Our guests on this album are all from quite different bands, and are are musicians for whom we have a great admiration and we were more than excited when they agreed to perform guest vocals. From the comments we’ve been getting it seems that the fans feel the same way too. Obviously we can’t reveal too much about the new album at the moment, except to say that it will be out in September, but Dark Essence Records will be revealing more information soon, and you’ll get a chance to hear something from it too!”

Formed in 2010 ALFAHANNE’s lineup of Pehr Skjoldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass, have a good two decades of experience under their belts, having been around the Black Metal scene since the early ‘90’s, in bands like VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT. Their self-styled “Alfapokalyptic Rock”, which mixes Black Metal with Classic Rock and Punk, combined with their charismatic and high-energy live shows, has gained the band a legion of fans, both inside and outside of Europe.

ALFAHANNE’s new album will be a follow up to last year’s debut full-length “Alfapokalyps”, which once again featured guest vocals from SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, as well as TAAKE’s Hoest and HELHEIM’s V’gandr. Confirmed live dates for ALFAHANNE as follows:

One of the newest DARK ESSENCE RECORDS signings is Greece’s LUCIFER’s CHILD. This is a newly formed band, but is made up of distinguished musicians – George Emmanuel of ROTTING CHRIST and former CHAOSTAR member, and Stathis Ridis of NIGHTFALL – so you should make a note of this band name is sooner rather than later.

The band’s debut album “The Wiccan” was recorded during the summer of 2014 in Esoteron Music Studio in Athens, and is due for release early fall on Dark Essence Records.

For one week only Dark Essence Records and sister-label Karisma Records will hold a big record sale with up to 80% discount on CDs, LPs and merch. Check out metal album titles from Taake, Aeternus, Hades Almighty, Shining (Swe), Galar, Alfahanne, Slegest, Sarkom, Helheim, Kraków and more via links below;

With the release of “Til alle heimsens endar” in 2010, the Bergen based Norwegian Black / Folk metal band GALAR received a lot of good response, which also ended up in their first live appearances. The core duo consisting of M. Kristiansen and A. B. Lauritzen have since worked steadily with their 3rd opus, “DE GJENLEVENDE”.

“De Gjenlevende” was again recorded at Concleave & Earshot Studio with DARK ESSENCE RECORDS’ own Bjørnar E. Nilsen. Drummer Phobos (Aeternus, Gravdal) has again been recruited for the recording, joined by several session musicians that include both a string quintet and a horn quartet which fit in with the epic nature of the material.

De Gjenlevende is a six-track, concept album. Jorge Blutaar, the band’s lyricist, explains the concept behind the album, which draws its inspiration from Pan-European folklore, ontology, and elegies; “Its five contemplative texts tell of the utter dreadfulness that haunts both the human mind and body when the season of winter holds every living thing in its grasp. Winter is the time of utter gloom, enfeeblement and inescapable death, which challenges mankind, beasts and plants equally. Yet, as long as there is life, there is hope, and eventually a new era of the Sun will bring to an end the seemingly eternal darkness of winter. With the arrival of spring hope and life will flourish once more. It is a portrayal of this cyclical process of transformation that is as old as the history of mankind itself“.

Once again, Galar offers an epic and monumental album, that also sees the band exploring a bit more harsher and extreme sound without losing their special symphonic elements.

With their third full-length album “Doomsday Elite” having been released on Dark Essence Records at the end 2013, and with a current lineup that includes Unsgaard (SO MUCH FOR NOTHING) on vocals, Sgt V (ex Svarttjern) on bass, Thrawn (ex DØDHEIMSGARD) on guitar, Nihil (ENDEZZMA) on guitar and Defest (SVARTHAUEG) on drums, SARKOM founder Erik Unsgaard recently spoke about the band’s next album, and why it has been a little longer in coming than originally planned:

“The new album was supposed to be released last year, as a special Anniversary release to mark ten years since we released our demo. Unfortunately, personal matters got in the way and we only got as far as tracking the drums and some of the guitars. Added to which, we’ve recently had some technical problems, which everyone who has ever worked in a band will know about, so it’s just one of those things you get used to and eventually work around. Although we can’t actually make any definitive promises at this stage, we hope to get it finished within the next few months and hopefully get it released this year.

“What can you expect from the album? Well, as this was meant to be an Anniversary release, there will not be any particular theme or concept to it, neither will the sound or lyrics necessarily reflect each other at all. Without wanting to give away too many details at this stage we can reveal that aside from six SARKOM songs, it is likely that a handful of cover songs will also find their way onto the final product. If anyone wants a sneak peek at the new material and you are coming to Blastfest, then make sure you’re at the Garage on Friday 20th February. SARKOM will be hitting the stage at 13:30 and you can be amongst the first to hear the new track ‘Mind-abscess’.”

As well as releasing “Doomsday Elite” in 2013 in both CD and Digital formats, Dark Essence Records also released the band’s two earlier albums – 2006’s “Aggravation of Mind” and 2008’s “Bestial Supremacy” in Digital format. Originally released on the now defunct Twilight Vertrieb label, both albums are now almost impossible to get hold of. Tracks from all three releases can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/sets/sarkom

“Doomsday Elite” has also just been released in 12″ vinyl format on the Witching Hour Productions label, under license from Dark Essence Records.

When CARPATHIAN FOREST guitarists Tchort and BloodPervertor announced last year that they were leaving to set up a new band, THE 3rd ATTEMPT, they knew that they were leaving behind them the security of one of the most iconic Norwegian Black Metal bands of all time, and one with a huge following, to start something completely new and unproven, at a time when labels are reluctant to dip their toes into uncharted territories and new bands emerge in their hundreds every week, only to disappear into nothingness. But when you have two musicians with the skill and experience of Tchort (GREEN CARNATION, ex-CARPATHIAN FOREST, ex EMPEROR, ex BLOOD RED THRONE) and BloodPervertor (APOSTASY, ex-CARPATHIAN FOREST, ex NEONGOD) who have the desire to work in an environment that could re-ignite the enthusiasm and creativity they felt they had lost, then a move was inevitable. Interest from various labels was certainly not slow in materialising and today the band are pleased to be able to announce that they have inked a deal with one of Norway’s foremost labels, Dark Essence Records.

Commenting on their decision to sign with Dark Essence, the band had this to say: “Dark Essence signalled their interest in the possibility of working together as soon as we announced THE 3rd ATTEMPT, even before they had heard anything, and they have kept in close touch, actually making the effort to attend rehearsals and get to know our new members. In the end, it came down to a decision as to whether we wanted to sign with a large label and, as a new band, risk disappearing in the depth of their rosters, or whether we wanted to work with a label who was genuinely interested in us as a band, and who would be with us every step of the way, in all aspects. We also heard many good things about Dark Essence from the musicians already signed to them, so, Dark Essence it is! We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us with preparing and rehearsing the new material ready to enter the studio, and we are excited to see what the future will bring”.

Dark Essence Records commented on the signing: “It takes a substantial label to be able to afford to sign a band like CARPATHIAN FOREST, so when it was announced that Tchort and BloodPervertor were leaving and starting again from scratch with THE 3rd ATTEMPT, we were immediately interested in seeing what direction they would take, and opened a dialogue with them . We already knew what formidable musicians they were and what they were capable of, so Dark Essence’s Kristine Knapskog went along to rehearsals to check out their new material. She very much liked their enthusiasm and attitude, and their desire to work closely with a label and we are very happy to welcome them to the Dark Essence family “.
Aside from Tchort and BloodPervertor, THE 3rd ATTEMPT’s lineup includes frontman Kaahrl Ødemark (ex- MIDNATTSVREDE, ex-NECROCAVE) who was selected following online auditions that drew in submissions from all over the world, and drummer Tybalt (FORTID, DEN SAAKALDTE, ETHEREAL FOREST, ex- HEATHEN DEITY, ex-PANTHEON I) who was originally slated to join the band as session live drummer for an upcoming appearance, but after taking part in rehearsals, it was decided that he would become a full-time member.

The 3rd ATTEMPT’s debut live appearance will be at Blastfest, in Bergen, Norway, on the 18th February on board the boat “Showline”, which will take fans on a 5 hour cruise of Bergen’s spectacular fjord, and which kicks off the 4 day festival.

THE 3rd ATTEMPT recently debuted a demo track “The Beast Within”, which also features CARPATHIAN FOREST’s Daniel Vrangsinn on bass and Anders Kobro on drums, and which was used in a shortened form for the vocalist auditions. It is not a “finished” track. “The Beast Within” can be heard below and on THE 3rd ATTEMPT’s SoundCloud page at https://soundcloud.com/the-3rd-attempt/the-3rd-attempt-the-beast-within-demo-track

With the “The Freak is Alive”, the sophomore full-length album from Icelandic Progressive Doomsters MOMENTUM, set to hit the streets on the 9th February, Dark Essence Records have today debuted a second track from the album. The track, “Between Two Worlds”, together with the recently debuted “Gauntlet”, can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/sets/momentum-two-tracks-from-the

Recorded at Studio ReFlex with Axel “Flex” Árnason, “The Freak is Alive” is very much the concept of MOMENTUM’s frontman Holaf, who combines his lyrics and his artwork with the music, to lead the listeners on a surreal journey through the subconscious mind to a destination that only the travellers themselves can recognise.

Aside from Holaf on Vocals, Bass and Sitar, the lineup on “The Freak is Alive” includes, Ingvar Sæmundsson on Guitar and Vocals, Kristján Einar Guðmundsson on Drums, and Sigurður Árni Jónsson on Guitar and Vocals.

Track listing on the 9 track album, which seamlessly blends atmospheric post-rock with bone-crushing heaviness, and features soft vocals and clean passages, is as follows:

Track listing for “The Freak is Alive” as follows:
1. Bury the Eyes Once Gold
2. Between Two Worlds
3. Familiar Unknown
4. Gauntlet
5. The Freak is Alive
6. A Beast is Near
7. Creator of Malignant Metaphors
8. Undercover Imagination
9. Depth of the Whole

Dark Essence Records have announced March 16th as the release date for “De gjenlevende”, the new album from Norwegian Black-Folk Metallers GALAR. The album, which will be the band’s 3rd full-length, was recorded at the Conclave and Earshot Studio in Bergen with producer and VULTURE INDUSTRIES frontman Bjørnar E. Nilsen handling the recording and mixing , whilst the mastering is by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen. Artwork for the album is by Robert Høyem of graphic designers Overhaus. The track “Tusen kall til solsang ny” from “De gjenlevende”, has been debuted today and can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/galarofficial/sets/til-alle-heimsens-endar

Joining the lineup for the album is Phobos (AETERNUS, GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) who was once again drafted in to handle the drums, as well as several session musicians including both a string quintet and a horn quartet – unusual elements that are ideally suited to the epic nature of the six-track concept album. Track listing for “De gjenlevende”, which is sung entirely in Norwegian, but which is accompanied by an explanatory booklet in English, as follows:

Whilst “De gjenlevende” loses nothing of the epic grandeur that fans have come to expect from the band, this time GALAR also delve further into their harsher and more extreme sound alongside their trademark symphonic elements. As the band’s lyricist Jorge Blutaar recently explained, the concept for “De gjenlevende” is inspired by Pan-European folklore, ontology, and elegies. “Its five contemplative texts tell of the utter dreadfulness that haunts both the human mind and body when the season of winter holds every living thing in its grasp. Winter is the time of utter gloom, enfeeblement and inescapable death, which challenges mankind, beasts and plants equally. Yet, as long as there is life, there is hope, and eventually a new era of the Sun will bring to an end the seemingly eternal darkness of winter. With the arrival of spring hope and life will flourish once more. It is a portrayal of this cyclical process of transformation that is as old as the history of mankind itself”.

GALAR’s founders M. Kristiansen (screams, guitars and bass) and A. B. Lauritzen (clean vocals, bassoon and grand piano) recently announced that they had expanded the band’s lineup to include drummer Tomas Myklebust (ex-EMANCER, live session drums with VULTURE INDUSTRIES and VRIED), and have also added live session member Pól Nolsøe Jespersen on lead guitars. The first time the new lineup will hit the stage will be at Inferno Festival in Oslo on the 1st of April at the Dark Essence Records label night at Blå, alongside label-mates TAAKE, KRAKOW and MOMENTUM.

“De gjenlevende” is available to pre order from DARK ESSENCE RECORDS at http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/product/galar-de-gjennlevende or direct from GALAR at http://galar.bigcartel.com/product/de-gjenlevende

Five tracks from GALAR, including “Tusen kall til solsang ny” from “De gjenlevende”, can be heard here:

It has become tradition for Dark Essence Records to host a labelnight at Blå during the Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, Norway. The next Dark Essence Records labelnight is now scheduled to take place on April 1st 2015.

For the Dark Essence Records labelnight we will be bring with us Norwegian black metal band TAAKE, doomish progressive stoner metal band KRAKOW, the melodic folk black metal band GALAR and Iceland the progressive metal band MOMENTUM!

We hope that you’ll come and join us at Blå if you are in Oslo Easter 2015!

If fans of KRAKOW thought they knew exactly what to expect from the upcoming album from the Norwegian Experimental Post Metallers, they are going to be very surprised, because, with “amaran”, the band has chosen to explore not only the calmer side of their sound, but also the more experimental, drone side, creating a work that is filled both with dream-like soundscapes and sinister and harsh atmospheres. As a taster of what to expect, Dark Essence Records have debuted “atom”, a track from “amaran”, and it can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/krakow-atom

Formed in the fall of 2005, KRAKOW ‘s lineup consists of very skilled and experienced musicians with Kjartan Grønhaug on guitars, René Misje on guitars and vocals, bassist Frode Kilvik (AETERNUS, VITHR) and Ask Ty Ulvhedin Arctander (KAMPFAR) on drums. According to KRAKOW, the making of “amaran”, which is a follow up up to 2012’s much praised sophomore album “diin”, has been “a journey, never easy, but always thrilling”. Once again the band has worked with producer Iver Sandøy at Solslottet and Duper Studio. The seven-track album is set to appear on Dark Essence Records on the 9th February 2015 in CD, Vinyl and Digital formats.

Artwork for the “amaran” is by Thomas Hooper and the track listing is as follows:

Earlier this year KRAKOW issued a studio update, in which they talked about the different approach they took to recording “amaran” as opposed to their previous albums: “Towards the end of last year we recorded 10 demos which we brought with us to the amazing Duper Studio with Iver Sandøy, once again positioned behind the desk. The approach this time was in some ways different than during the “diin” sessions. We still record everything live as a band, but we wanted a bit more definition, less distortion, cleaner drums, more focus on the songs and melodies that lived within the compositions. The music is still dark, melodic and mysterious, but this time with a different angle.

“During the sessions we almost killed Kjartan’s Mesa Mark III with a steel reverb and Space Echo, used the smallest acoustic guitar on this side of Equator, and recorded accordion, broken chair, surf guitar, cassette player guitar, singing though a piano and open windows during a storm, just to name a few. The whole recording session ended with a lot of red wine and 18 minutes of pure dark drone”.

More information about KRAKOW can be found on the band’s website at http://www.krakowofficial.com/

Six tracks from KRAKOW can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud page at https://soundcloud.com/krakow_band

Fan-filmed footage of KRAKOW performing the track “Termination of Origin” from the “diin” album can be seen below and on the band’s YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/Ku9B1bWCWjc

“Stridens hus” takes the unique Taake sound and develops it further. Still true to the spirit of the old Norwegian Black Metal, Hoest breathes new life into the genre by introducing different elements that ensure the sound remains fresh and relevant. Some parts are more groove and rock orientated, whilst some have a distinctly punk attitude. However, this is still unmistakably Taake and, as always, we’re treated to a varied album with intense, unique and unpredictable dynamics.

Once again, Hoest plays all the instruments himself, but this time the Taake live band has contributed to the recording, alongside producer and DARK ESSENCE’s own Bjørnar E. Nilsen.

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HOW TO ORDER

To purchase this album as physical product from webshop (creditcard/ Paypal): Click here

Listen to or stream the album in your preferred digital music service by clicking here:

Having connected with the band during 2014’s Roadburn Festival, Dark Essence Records were quick to snap up the Icelandic Progressive Doomsters MOMENTUM, and on the 9th February 2015 the label is set to release MOMENTUM’s sophomore full length album “The Freak is Alive”. As a taster of what to expect Dark Essence Records have debuted “Gauntlet” , a track from the album and it can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/momentum-gauntlet

“The Freak is Alive”, which was Recorded at Studio ReFlex with Axel “Flex” Árnason, with a lineup that includes Holaf on Vocals, Bass and Sitar, Ingvar Sæmundsson on Guitar and Vocals, Kristján Einar Guðmundsson on Drums, and Sigurður Árni Jónsson on Guitar and Vocals, features nine tracks that blend atmospheric Post-Rock, reminiscent of Isis and Cult of Luna, with a Neurosis-esque level of bone-crushing heaviness interspersed with soft vocals and relaxed clean passages. The album is very much the concept of frontman Holaf, whose lyrics and artwork combine with the music to carry the listeners on a surreal journey through the subconscious mind, guiding them, but at the same time allowing them the freedom to interpret what they find at their journey’s end.

Track listing for “The Freak is Alive” as follows:
1. Bury the Eyes Once Gold
2. Between Two Worlds
3. Familiar Unknown
4. Gauntlet
5. The Freak is Alive
6. A Beast is Near
7. Creator of Malignant Metaphors
8. Undercover Imagination
9. Depth of the Whole

The DARK ESSENCE RECORDS release section is now up to date with all album releases – right up to the new Taake EP ‘Kulde’. In about ten day’s time we will update this section again with the new fullength TAAKE album ‘Stridens hus’.

The release section gives you a quick overview of album name, artist, release date, cover, album formats, link to our webshop to check out the album in physical formats, and link to the album in the digital music service of your own choice. All-in-all it’s a great overview and easy access to our catalogue so head on over and check it out!

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS RELEASES NEW TAAKE EP “KULDE”

As a warm-up to the upcoming Taake fullenght studioalbum “Stridens Hus” – DARK ESSENCE RECORDS is happy to release a new TAAKE EP. The EP is called “KULDE” (English: Cold). It contains exclusive new material from Taake and a cover of The Cure.

You can listen to Kulde in the digital music service of your choice via this link:

With the traditional three year wait between TAAKE albums now over, Dark Essence Records has today announced the first details of what will be the iconic Norwegian band’s sixth full-length album. Titled “Stridens hus”, the seven-track album is set for release on the 8th December world-wide, with the exception of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where the album will appear on the 12th of the month . The label has also debuted the track “Det fins en Prins” from “Stridens hus” and it can be heard below and at https://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/taake-det-fins-en-prins

“Stridens hus” is recorded and produced by Bjornar Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES) at his Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen. As with all TAAKE albums, frontman and founder Hoest plays all the instruments himself, but this time members of the TAAKE live band have also contributed to the recording. Album artwork from a photo by Nekrographie. Track Listing as follows:

With a career spanning over two decades, Hoest has always remained faithful to his trademark Helnorsk Svartmetall sound, but he has never allowed the grass to grow under his feet, and, with each release, he has breathed new life into an often stale and derivative genre; his unique and innovative twists ensuring that Black Metal still remains fresh and relevant today. And “Stridens hus” is no exception. Parts of the album demonstrate a groove and rock sound, whilst others dsiplay a distinctly punk attitude. But the whole is without a doubt unmistakably Hoest’s TAAKE: varied, intense, unique and unpredictable.

TAAKE is currently in the middle of the Kulde Tour which will end on the 26th October. Other confirmed upcoming shows as follows:

In a statement that caught fans of the legendary Norwegian band by surprise, HADES ALMIGHTY frontman and bassist Janto has announced that after 22 years he will be leaving the band. Both Janto and the remaining members have reassured fans that his reasons for leaving are purely personal, and that relations between everyone are still as strong as they ever were.

Formed in 1992 by guitarist Jorn (DOMINANZ, ex-OLD FUNERAL, ex-IMMORTAL, ex-AMPUTATION), and drummer Remi, HADES ALMIGHTY’s last album was 2004’s “The Pulse of Decay”, and the band had recently announced that they had renewed their contract with DARK ESSENCE RECORDS and were working on their next release. In a statement issued by Jorn and Remi, both emphasised that this most definitely does not signify the end of a band, whose ability to convey the real darkness that lies within human passion had placed them in the forefront of the Black Metal genre, but rather a new beginning:

“Janto, The lead singer/bass player of HADES ALMIGHTY, has, after 22 years by our side, decided to leave the band permanently!
There is no bad blood between us, as we still are best of friends, and will continue being friends. This is a decision he made completely by himself.

Janto has been, and still is, a brilliant musician, bass player and composer, both musically and lyrically! It has been 22 years of great times, many, many inspirations in many ways. We salute you our brother in arms! More than two decades of dedication in The Horde of HADES is something to be proud of, and we salute the raven of war and crimes in music and friendship! HAIL!

We will continue working on the new album as planned and it is due to be finished in 2015. The EP, which was due to be released at the end of 2014 will suffer some delay because of this matter, but nothing significant!

All shows are hereby cancelled, but we will of course return as soon as we have the opportunity!

This means that HADES ALMIGHTY is entering a new era, starting from this day forward! We would like to reach out to our followers, FANS, promoters, record label, booking agencies, and crew, for a little understanding that our already booked shows, and future plans, will be delayed! We are honestly sorry for that, and we are already in the process of finding a replacement for Janto, but that alone is a long process, and surely not an easy one!!
Best regards from HADES ALMIGHTY
Jørn & Remi”

Regarding his reasons for departure Janto had this to say:

“It has not been an easy decision, but it has been made.
22 years have passed and it has been a bumpy ride, but… a great one. I would like to thank all our fans and supporters throughout the years. You have been loyal and fantastic.

I would also like to thank Jørn and Remi for all the good times in the rehearsal studio, on the road and on stage. I wish you all the best in your future work with HADES.
You are my best friends. My band days are over but our brotherhood remains !

Norwegian Black Metallers TAAKE are set to embark on a headlining tour in October of this year. The eleven date tour will span four countries – the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Supporting TAAKE on all the dates will be VALKYRJA and NOCTEM.

Additionally, on the 4th of October TAAKE will headline at Norwegian Hellcamp, a first of its kind festival whose lineup features some of the top Norwegian bands at the extreme end of the spectrum. Norwegian Hellcamp will take place at the Stadthalle in Schweinfurt, Germany, and also appearing alongside TAAKE will be VULTURE INDUSTRIES, RAGNAROK, SARKOM, ENDEZZMA, SLAGMAUR, AURA NOIR and DEN SAAKALDTE.

Dark Essence Records recently announced that TAAKE would be releasing a new album later this year, and further information will be available shortly. From feedback received from the recent listening session the label held at the Beyond the Gates Festival in Bergen, where a few tracks from the album were played, it is clear that even after over twenty years TAAKE’s iconic frontman and founder Hoest continues to bring freshness and originality to the scene with his unique brand of Helnorsk Svartmetall.

Sweden’s self-styled Alfapokalyptic Rockers ALFAHANNE, whose debut full-length album was released earlier this year on Dark Essence Records, are back in the studio preparing for their next album. With guest vocalists like TAAKE’s Hoest, SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth and HELHEIM’s V’gandr on their debut “Alfapokalyps” – names that make most fans of extreme metal sit up and take notice – many are wondering what the band will pull out of its bag for its follow up, so guitarist Fredrik Sööberg took time out from working on the new material to give a hint about what to expect.

“ALFHANNE has never been a band that does things the way others do them. So when it comes to the process of recording a follow up album to “Alfapokalypse” we do it our way, regardless of expectations. We do not record demos or pre-productions. We just jam the shit out of our equipment until we have a song we feel we can perform properly on an album. Then we record it. As with “Alfapokalyps” we record the material live and most often it is the first take that ends up on the album. We believe that if we can’t get it right straight away, who are we to call ourselves musicians?

“ALFAHANNE is not about perfection and order. Quite the opposite. We are about emotions and chaos. The process of writing new material is as always quite easy for us. After releasing our first album we had so much inspiration left in us that we just kept going. Always inspired by the darkness that lies within the depth of humanity and the rotten illusion of our society. The songs just pop up like a big middle finger in the face of the world.

“As I write this, August has come to a close and we are about halfway through the recording, which, again as with “Alfapokalyps”, we are doing on our own, in our own Dödskult Studio, and we will continue the recording process during this fall/winter when we are not busy playing live. We can also reveal that our new album will have guest appearances by vocalists who we find suitable for our particular style of music, which we call Alfapokalyptic rock. As far as the sound is concerned we just have one thing to say: ALFAHANNE is always ALFAHANNE and we will always have our own distinctive sound. One thing we can safely say, however, is that this album will for sure be the best album released since “Alfapokalyps”.”

ALFAHANNE can claim a lineup of musicians that have been on the Black Metal scene since the early ’90’s in bands such as VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT, and Pehr Skioldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass have proved well-able to win over audiences wherever they have played, which includes a series of festival appearances during 2014. Formed in 2010, ALFAHANNE’s sound is a high energy mix of Black Metal, Classic Rock and Punk, a sound that was interesting enough to convince SHINING to join the band on the 2013 7″ split “Grym” release, after which, ALFAHANNE joined the formidable roster of Norway’s Dark Essence Records.

Norway’s KRAKOW have been hard at work in Bergen’s Duper Studio on what will be the band’s third full-length album, and have issued the following update on the progress, as well as dropping just a little hint of what fans can expect from the new release, which will appear once again on Dark Essence Records:

“Ok, so it’s time for a new Krakow album, the third installment in our series of creative ways to hammer music out of the mountains themselves. Like all our previous recordings, this has been a journey, never easy, but always thrilling.

The process of writing this album started just after we released “diin”. Many other events happened in that period too, like finding our drummer, having a meltdown after a Christmas binge party in a Parisian parking garage, almost getting into fist fights during a malt whiskey extravaganza on Stord Island, having our instruments stolen and then brought back to us during the next night’s show, and writing a lot of new riffs and songs, some of which have already disappeared into the great unknown. Which might be a good thing in some cases, though a few gems might have been lost along the way.

Anyway, towards the end of last year we recorded 10 demos which we brought with us to the amazing Duper Studio with Iver Sandøy, once again positioned behind the desk. The approach this time was in some ways different than during the diin sessions. We still record everything live as a band, but we wanted a bit more definition, less distortion, cleaner drums, more focus on the songs and melodies that lived within the compositions. The music is still dark, melodic and mysterious, but this time with a different angle.

During the sessions we almost killed Kjartan’s Mesa Mark III with a steel reverb and Space Echo, used the smallest acoustic guitar on this side of Equator, and recorded accordion, broken chair, surf guitar, cassette player guitar, singing though a piano and open windows during a storm, just to name a few. The whole recording session ended with a lot of red wine and 18 minutes of pure dark drone.

We still don’t know which songs that are going end up on the album, but the mixing is almost done and we are starting to get very excited. Stay tuned for album details, cover art and tour dates!

– Krakow”

Formed in the fall of 2005, KRAKOW is a band that is difficult to pin to any particular genre, fitting equally well into the Metal / Experimental / Ambient categories, and with a lineup that consists of very skilled and experienced musicians. Today’s lineup consists of Kjartan Grønhaug (HAVARIKOMMISJONEN) on guitars, René Misje on guitars and vocals, frontman and bassist Frode Kilvik (AETERNUS, VITHR) and drummer Ask Ty Ulvhedin Arctander (KAMPFAR.

KRAKOW will perform a set at the Garage, Bergen, on Friday 29th August during the Beyond the Gates Festival.

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS will host a listening session at Bergen’s Beyond the Gates Festival 2014 where attendees will have the opportunity to be the first people to hear tracks from the upcoming albums from TAAKE, GALAR, KRAKOW, and the label’s new signing MOMENTUM. The session will take place at the Garage, Bergen, on Saturday 30th August from 14:00 – 16:00.

Additionally, KRAKOW will hit the stage at the Garage at 18:00 on Friday 29th to perform a set.

Commenting on the event, DARK ESSENCE’s Martin Kvam said: “Beyond the Gates is the ideal setting for us to showcase what fans can expect from these great bands over the coming months. Most people are already aware that we have new albums from GALAR, KRAKOW and MOMENTUM in our release schedule, but we haven’t announced anything at all about the new TAAKE, so knowing that this one is coming up should be a welcome surprise for their fans. We’re all very much looking forward to hearing everyone’s reaction to what they are going to be listening to on Saturday”.

More information about DARK ESSENCE RECORDS and their bands can be found at www.darkessencerecords.no

Details about the Beyond the Gates festival which runs for three days from Thursday the 28th to Saturday 30th August, and which this year features performances from bands such as PRIMORDIAL, NIFLHEIM and INQUISITION amongst others, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/beyondthegatesbergen

Dark Essence Records have inked a deal with Iceland’s MOMENTUM and are preparing to release the band’s sophomore full-length album, “The Freak Is Alive”, on a date as yet to be announced. Formed in 2003, MOMENTUM started life as a Black/Death metal project, with their first release, “The Requiem” EP appearing in 2006, followed two years later by another EP – “Your Side of the Triangle”.

By the time MOMENTUM’s debut full-lenth album “Fixation, at Rest” appeared in 2010, the band had left its roots behind and developed an identity all of its own, which, with the upcoming “The Freak Is Alive” album, frontman Holaf has taken even further, using his artwork, lyrics and concept to carry listeners on a surreal journey through the subconscious mind, leading them along paths that allow them to interpret for themselves what they are seeing and hearing.

With a lineup that includes Holaf on Vocals, Bass and Sitar, Ingvar Sæmundsson on Guitar and Vocals, Kristján Einar Guðmundsson on Drums, and Sigurður Árni Jónsson on Guitar and Vocals, MOMENTUM is a band that excels at merging atmospheric post-rock, reminiscent of ISIS and CULT OF LUNA, together with a level of bone-crushing heaviness broken up by soft singing and relaxed clean passages, intense vocals layered over discordant, staccato bursts, and mingling with eerie sound textures that explode into high-impact power chords, which bring to mind the work of NEUROSIS.

Dark Essence Records have today revealed details, including the artwork and track-listing, for “De gjenlevende”, the upcoming album from Norwegian Black-Folk Metallers GALAR. Mixed and recorded at Bergen’s Conclave and Earshot Studio by producer and VULTURE INDUSTRIES frontman Bjørnar E. Nilsen, “De gjenlevende” (The Bereaved) is a follow up to 2010’s “Til Alle Heimsens Endar”, and will be GALAR’s third-full length album. Artwork for the album is by Robert Høyem of graphic designers Overhaus.

“De gjenlevende” sees GALAR’s founders M. Kristiansen (screams, guitars and bass) and A. B. Lauritzen (clean vocals, bassoon and grand piano) and drummer Phobos (AETERNUS, GRAVDAL, MALSAIN), joined by several session musicians that include both a string quintet and a horn quartet which fit in with the epic nature of the material, both musical and lyrical, that has been created for the six-track, concept album. Entirely written in Norwegian, the track entitled “Ljós” will be an instrumental, whilst the other tracks are longer, and more epic than previous work by the band.

Jorge Blutaar, the band’s lyricist, recently briefly explained the concept behind the album, which draws its inspiration from Pan-European folklore, ontology, and elegies. “Its five contemplative texts tell of the utter dreadfulness that haunts both the human mind and body when the season of winter holds every living thing in its grasp. Winter is the time of utter gloom, enfeeblement and inescapable death, which challenges mankind, beasts and plants equally. Yet, as long as there is life, there is hope, and eventually a new era of the Sun will bring to an end the seemingly eternal darkness of winter. With the arrival of spring hope and life will flourish once more. It is a portrayal of this cyclical process of transformation that is as old as the history of mankind itself”. Fans worried about not understanding the Norwegian lyrics need have no concerns, as the album comes with an explanatory booklet.

Track listing for “De gjenlevende”, whose estimated date of release is the 20th October, is as follows:

After keeping fans waiting for four years, Norwegian Black Folk Metallers COR SCORPII have set the date of the 17th July on which to begin recording their sophomore full-length album. As with their previous release “Monument” the album will be recorded and mixed by Børge Finstad at his Toproom Studio (MAYHEM, BORKNAGAR, VINTERSORG, TRISTANIA, ARCTURUS etc).

So far the band have released very little information about the album, which has a working title of “Ruin”, other than to say that they expect to have it finished by the autumn of this year and that it will be released on Dark Essence Records. They have, however, posted a pre-production teaser of what will eventually turn into a 9 -10 minute epic track, as an indication on what fans can expect. The teaser can be heard on the band’s official YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/T1bDm6I6lVw

COR SCORPII was formed in 2004 by WINDIR/ULCUS keyboard player Gaute Refsnes following the tragic death of WINDIR’s Terje “Valfar” Bakken. With a lineup that includes Thomas Øvstedal on vocals, Gaute Refsnes on keyboards, Erlend Nybø on lead guitars, Rune Sjøthun on rhythm guitars, Inge Jonny Lomheim on bass and Ole “Vargon” Nordsve on drums, COR SCORPII’s music blends melody with aggression, and black metal vocals with strong folk metal feel that has made the Bergen band so popular with fans of the extreme genres.

It has just been confirmed that COR SCORPII will be joining DARK ESSENCE RECORDS label-mates TAAKE at next year’s Karmøygeddon Metal Festival, and more information about COR SCORPII can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/officialcorscorpii

The pre-production video teaser for the upcoming COR SCORPII album can be heard here:

Several tracks from COR SCORPII can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud Page here:

Although the band’s recorded output has lain virtually dormant since 2004 when Dark Essence Record re-released their 2001 classic “The Pulse of Decay”, things are definitely starting to stir in the HADES ALMIGHTY recording front, so much so, in fact, that Dark Essence have renewed their contract and are planning to release a new album from the legendary Norwegians.

Formed in 1992 by guitarist Jorn (DOMINANZ, ex-OLD FUNERAL, ex-IMMORTAL, ex-AMPUTATION), and drummer Remi, HADES ALMIGHTY became a fully functioning band with the arrival of Janto on Bass and vocals, and Nagel on guitar and the release of their first demo “Alone Walkyng”. A series of further releases followed, but it was the appearance of “Pulse of Decay” that really catapulted HADES ALMIGHTY to the forefront of the Black Metal genre, by demonstrating their ability to convey the real darkness that lies within human passion.

With today’s lineup of Janto, Jorn and Remi, HADES ALMIGHTY have proved time and time again in the live arena that they are a force to be reckoned with, and that they rightly deserve to be called “the heaviest Black Metal three-piece in the world”. With another two of the band’s albums “…Again Shall Be” & ” Dawn Of The Dying Sun”, being released on CD and vinyl in 2010, calls from fans for new material have been increasing, and with work on a new album progressing well, it looks like those calls will, at long last, be answered.

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS plans to make their annual Inferno Festival event a little different this year when they join forces with sister label KARISMA RECORDS to showcase two of their bands each at Blå on Wednesday 16th April. “We are always conscious of the fact that while many of Dark Essence’s artists such as TAAKE tour frequently, and fans in Europe have a good chance of seeing them live, the Karisma artists tend to tour much less, so we thought that this year we would open up the event to give their fans a chance to see some of them, and introduce them to Dark Essence’s fans at the same time”, commented the label’s Martin Kvam.

Representing Dark Essence will be two bands whose recent releases have been getting rave reviews from press and fans alike. First up will be SLEGEST, the new project from former VREID guitarist Ese, who has skilfully blended classic heavy rock and old-school black metal to produce a sound that is both dark and sinister, and with an unmistakably down and dirty catchy groove that weaves its way through the music. Originally started as a one-man project, once the debut full-length album “Løyndom” was released at the end of 2013, it quickly became clear that the demand from fans to see SLEGEST perform live was such that Ese was persuaded to form a fully functioning band. More information about SLEGEST can be found here.

The official video for the track “Ho Som Haustar Aleine” from SLEGEST’s “Løyndom” can be seen here.

Joining them will be Sweden’s ALFAHANNE, whose lineup includes members of bands such as VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT, and who have come together to play what they themselves have called ”Alfapocalyptic Rock”, a fascinating and hard-hitting mix of Black Metal, Classic Rock and Punk with some Goth influences. Their high-energy live performances have garnered them much praise. Making a guest appearance on stage with ALFAHANNE, will be HELHEIM’s V’gandr who performed vocals on one of the tracks from the band’s new album “Alfapokalyps”. It is a tribute to ALFAHANNE that they were able to attract not only V’gandr to make a guest appearance on the album, but also Dark Essence label-mates Hoest from TAAKE and Niklas Kvarforth from SHINING. More information about ALFAHANNE can be found here.

The track “Såld På Mörkret” from ALFAHANNE’s album ”Alfapocalyptic Rock” and which features TAAKE’s Hoest on guest vocals can be heard here
Making an appearance for Karisma will be two bands, representing the new and the established. Lovers of Prog Rock cannot fail to recognise the name of AIRBAG, a band known the world-over for an exquisite musical craftsmanship that enables its musicians to create a sonic experience ranging from massive walls of sound, to ambient textures and soulful soundscapes, both in the studio and on stage. The release of AIRBAG’s third full-length album “The Greatest Show on Earth” at the end of last year confirmed the band’s status in the world of prog, earning them many accolades. Inferno will be one of the very few chancesthat to catch this incredible band live this year so it is an opportunity that should not be missed. One for fans of ANATHEMA. More information about AIRBAG can be found here.

The title track from AIRBAG’s album “The Greatest Show on Earth” can be heard here.

The second of the Karisma bands is one of their latest signings, SEVEN IMPALE. The release of the digital EP “Beginning/Relieve” last year gave an indication of the multi-faceted nature of these young musicians. With its member drawn from a range of disciplines including classical orchestra, big band, metal, jazz, rock and electronic music, their sound ranges from progressive and jazzy to the softer and more melodic to the harder and edgier. They bring a freshness and enthusiasm to their live performances, and it is anticipated that their debut full-length album later this year will more than meet expectations, setting them apart from many other new arrivals on the scene. If you are a fan of Norway’s SHINING, SEVEN IMPALE is definitely a band you will want to check out. More information about SEVEN IMPALE can be found here.
The title track from SEVEN IMPALE’s “Beginning/Relieve” EP can be heard here.

Scheduled performances for the Dark Essence Records / Karisma Records artists at Inferno Festival, which will take place at Blå, Brennereiven 9C, Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday 16th April as follows:

With ALFAHANNE’s first full-length album “Alfapokalyps” set for release in less than a month, DARK ESSENCE RECORDS have today debuted the track “Såld På Mörkret” from the album. “Alfapokalyps” was mastered by Tore Stjerna at the Necromorbus Studio and includes guest appearances from SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth and HELHEIM’s V’gandr, as well as TAAKE’s Hoest, who features on the newly debuted track “Såld På Mörkret” which can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/alfahanne-s-ld-p-m-rkret

Formed in Sweden in 2010 ALFAHANNE’s lineup includes musicians who have been on the Black Metal Scene since the early ‘90’s in bands such as VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT, and who have come together to play what they call ”Alfapocalyptic Rock”. Playing a mixture of Black Metal, Classic Rock and Punk with some Goth influences, ALFAHANNE’s first release was the “Grym” split 7” with Sweden’s SHINING in 2013.

ALFAHANNE’s current lineup includes Pehr Skioldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass, and the band’s next live appearance will be on the 16th of April at the DARK ESSENCE RECORDS Club Night at the Inferno Festival in Oslo. ALFAHANNE is also set to appear at the Tons of Rock Festival alongside SABATON, SEPULTURA and SOILWORK in June.

“Alfapokalyps”, will hit the streets on the 10th of February in both CD and vinyl versions, and is already available to pre-order from http://shop.karismarecords.no/.
Tracklisting as follows:

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS has announced details of “Alfapokalyps”, the upcoming album from Swedish rockers ALFAHANNE. The ten-track album will be the debut full-length release from ALFAHANNE, a name that is relatively new on the scene compared to some of the label’s more venerable artists, yet it is a band that has managed to tempt the likes of TAAKE’s Hoest, SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, and HELHEIM’s V’gandr to make guest appearances on “Alfapokalyps”.
Set to hit the streets on the 10th of February, “Alfapokalyps” was mixed by Tore Stjerna at the Necromorbus Studio. Artwork is by Mikael Skoog.

Formed in 2010, ALFAHANNE’s debut release came in 2013 with the release of the “Grym” split 7” with Sweden’s SHINING. ALFAHANNE plays what its members describe as ”Alfapocalyptic Rock”, which mixes Black Metal with Classic Rock and Punk, all topped off with some Goth influences. It is music that is both powerful and beautiful whilst at the same time is ugly, and about which the band says: “When you are into it you don´t feel pleasure and you don´t feel pain but you definitely FEEL”. Whilst ALFAHANNE might be a fairly new name to a lot of people, the band’s members, which include Pehr Skioldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass, have been around the Black Metal scene since the early ‘90’s, playing in bands like VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT.

ALFAHANNE’s next live appearance will be on the 16th of April at the DARK ESSENCE RECORDS Club Night at the Inferno Festival in Oslo. They are also set to appear at the Tons of Rock Festival alongside SABATON, SEPULTURA and SOILWORK in June.

Having released SARKOM’s third full-length album “Doomsday Elite” earlier this month, DARK ESSENCE RECORDS have today, the 28th October, released the band’s two earlier albums – 2006’s “Aggravation of Mind” and 2008’s “Bestial Supremacy”. Originally released on the now defunct Twilight Vertrieb label, both albums are now almost impossible to get hold of, and will initially be available digitally, before an eventual release in CD format at an as yet unspecified date. Both will come with revised artwork, and are available from all the usual digital retailers as well as direct from Dark Essence Records at http://shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords.

The lineup on both “Aggravation of Mind”, which was SARKOM’s debut album, and the sophomore album “Bestial Conspiracy”, comprises Unsgaard on vocals, Sagstad on guitars and bass, and Renton on drums. “Passion for Suicide” from the “Aggravation of the Mind” album and “Inferior Bleeding” from “Bestial Supremacy” can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records. Track listing for the albums as follows:
AGGRAVATION OF MIND
1. Bloodstains on the Horns
2. Embraced You Shall Be
3. Alpha – Omega
4. The Chosen One
5. Aggravation of Mind’s Syndrome
6. Inside the Memories
7. Passion for Suicide
8. Cryptic Void

The digital release of SARKOM’s earlier albums hot on the heels for the band’s current output provides an interesting way to chart the band’s progression over the years, especially for the newer fans that have so far been unable to get hold of the original releases, and more so for a band that, according to frontman and founder Unsgaard (SO MUCH FOR NOTHING), refuses to stick to a formula just because it has proven successful, but continues to push the boundaries.

SARKOM was recently the first band to be confirmed to appear at next year’s Hammerslag Festival in February. More information about SARKOM can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sarkom

With their latest album “…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth” receiving high praise from reviewers, Norwegian Dark Metallers AETERNUS are streaming a second track from what is their seventh full-length album on their SoundCloud page. The track “Spurcitias” can be heard here http://soundcloud.com/aeternusnorway/aeternus-spurcitias

“…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth” was released earlier this year on Dark Essence Records, and was produced by Bjornar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) at the Conclave and Earshot studios in Bergen. All music for the album is by AETERNUS, whilst the concept and lyrics are by the band’s former bassist V’gandr (TAAKE, HELHEIM). Artwork for the ten-track album is by Timo Ketola, known for his work with bands such as for DEATHSPELL OMEGA, ASPHYX, DISSECTION MARDUK, WATAIN and OPETH amongst others. The first pressing includes AETERNUS’ 1995 “Dark Sorcery” EP as a bonus and is available directly from the label at http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/artist/aeternus.

AETERNUS was one of the original pioneers of what these days is called Dark Metal, and which, in AETERNUS’s case, combines features from both Black and Death Metal, together with occasional melodic interludes and superlative guitar playing. The band’s current line up includes guitarist and frontman Ares, who originally founded the band in 1993, Specter (ex-GRAVDAL) on guitars, Eld (KRAKOW) on bass and Phobos (GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) on drums. More information about AETNERNUS can be found on the band’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Aeternusofficial

With SARKOM’s new album “Doomsday Elite” out today, Monday October 14, DARK ESSENCE RECORDS are streaming a second track from the album on the label’s SoundCloud page. “Doomsday Elite”, which is SARKOM’s third full-length album, features guest appearances from Psy Coma (THE KOVENANT), Haan (SVARTTJERN), Nachtgarm (NEGATOR), Thrawn (PARADIGMA, ex DØDHEIMSGARD, ex NOCTURNAL BREED) and V. Larsen. The track “Predators in Disguise” can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/sarkom-predators-in-disguise

The lineup on “Doomsday Elite” includes the band’s two core members – founder and frontman Unsgaard (SO MUCH FOR NOTHING) on vocals and Sgt V (SVARTTJERN) on bass. URGEHAL’s Uruz performs drums for the album, whilst guitars are handled by former members Sagstad and Strönen. Former drummer and co-founder Renton is on effects. “Doomsday Elite” is mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at Strype Audio and artwork is by MK. “Perv”. Tracklisting for the eight-track album, as follows:

With just over a week to go before the release of “Løyndom”, the debut album from Norway’s SLEGEST, the band has released a music video for the opening track of the album “Ho Som Haustar Aleine”. The video, produced by Håvard Nesbø and Ørjan Talle, features the band’s newly formed live-lineup, which includes founder Ese (ex-VREID) on Vocals and Rhythm Guitars, Sør (BÄÄÄV, VONBRÅTEN) on Lead Guitars, Hövard (BOMBEKLÜCHTER) on Bass and Fjøsne on Drums. The video is being debuted by Metal Hammer Norway and can be seen at http://metal-hammer.no/premiere-slegest-video/2950/

SLEGEST, formed in 2010 by former VREID guitarist Ese originally as a solo studio project, plays a mix of classic Heavy Rock combined with old-school black metal vocals. The band’s first release, a self-titled EP, appeared in 2012, after which SLEGEST inked a deal with Dark Essence Records for the release of the debut full-length album. “Løyndom” was recorded partly in Ese’s own Systrond Studio and partly at the Conclave and Earshot Studio with producer Bjørnar E. Nilsen and was mastered by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen. The artwork for “Løyndom” includes drawings by Jan Magne Vigdal and design by Tom Korsvold. Tracklisting for “Løyndom”, which is set to hit the streets on the 7th October as follows:

With a release date for SLEGEST’s debut full-length album “Løyndom” set for the 7th October, Dark Essence Records has today previewed a track from what will be the debut album from former VREID guitarist Ese. “Ho Som Haustar Aleine” is the opening track from “Løyndom” and can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/slegest-ho-som-haustar-aleine

Recorded partly in Ese’s own Systrond Studio and partly at the Conclave and Earshot Studio with producer Bjørnar E. Nilsen, and mastered by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen, “Løyndom” (Secret), is a mix of classic heavy rock and old school black metal that has an distinctly down and dirty, and addictively catchy, groove running through it. Track listing for “Løyndom” as follows:

When Ese formed SLEGEST in 2010 following his departure from VREID, where he played on four albums, his original intention was that it should be a solo project, and, indeed, apart from a guest solo by former VREID band-mate Sture, Ese plays all the instruments himself on “Løyndom”. However, it soon became clear to everyone who heard the album that SLEGEST was a live band waiting to happen, and a live line-up has now been put together, which, apart from Ese on Vocals and Rhythm Guitars, consists of Sør (BÄÄÄV, VONBRÅTEN) on Lead Guitars, Hövard (BOMBEKLÜCHTER) on Bass and Fjøsne on Drums.

SLEGEST is also busy putting the finishing touches to a music video for “Ho Som Haustar Aleine”. Produced by Håvard Nesbø and Ørjan Talle, the video will premiere before the release of “Løyndom”.

The title track from SARKOM’s upcoming album “Doomsday Elite” has been debuted today by Dark Essence Records. With the album set for release on the 15th October, “Doomsday Elite” includes guest appearances from Psy Coma (THE KOVENANT), Haan (SVARTTJERN), Nachtgarm (NEGATOR), Thrawn (PARADIGMA, ex DØDHEIMSGARD, ex NOCTURNAL BREED) and V. Larsen, and was mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at Strype Audio. Artwork for the eight-track album, which will appear in both CD and vinyl versions, is by MK. “Perv”. The track, “Doomsday Elite”, can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/sarkom-doomsday-elite

The lineup on “Doomsday Elite”, which will be SARKOM’s third full-length album, includes the band’s two core members – founder and frontman Unsgaard (SO MUCH FOR NOTHING) on vocals and Sgt V (SVARTTJERN) on bass, as well as former guitarists Sagstad and Strönen, and former drummer and co-founder Renton, on effects. URGEHAL’s Uruz was brought in to record drums for the album. Track listing on “Doomsday Elite” as follows:

Unsgaard is firm in his assertion that SARKOM has never been a band content to acquiesce to the calls from certain sections of today’s generation of Black Metal fans who seem to think that conforming to an imaginary set of rules is a requirement for bands. “Like the originators of the genre, SARKOM keeps developing and stretching its boundaries. We don’t want to find ourselves repeating a formula just because it has proved successful. “Doomsday Elite” is not “Bestial Supremacy” part II, and with four songwriters all from different backgrounds, it is definitely an album that crosses the barriers”.

Having signed with Dark Essence Records for a further two albums, Norwegian Black-Folk Metallers GALAR have been ensconced in Bergen’s Conclave and Earshot Studios with Producer Bjørnar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) working on the bands third full-length album which will be titled “De Gjenlevende” (The Bereaved) and which is set for release in early 2014. Drummer Phobos (AETERNUS, GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) has now finished laying down the drum tracks and the band will take a short break from the studio until October. A video from the drum sessions can be seen on GALAR’s YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/bbNDHGFtoiY

A follow up to 2010’s “Til Alle Heimsens Endar”, the lineup on the album will once again include GALAR’s two core members of M. Kristiansen on screams, guitars and bass and A. B. Lauritzen on clean vocals, bassoon and grand piano, with Phobos on drums. They will be joined by a series of session musicians that include both a string quintet and a horn quartet in keeping with the epic material the band has produced for the album both musically and lyrically. Consisting of six tracks, one of which will be an instrumental, “De Gjenlevende” is a concept album and, according to GALAR, the songs will be longer, and more epic, than previously. Written entirely in Norwegian, “De Gjenlevende” will come with an explanatory booklet.

Jorge Scholz, the band’s lyricist, recently briefly explained the concept behind the album, which draws its inspiration from Pan-European folklore, ontology, and elegies. “Its five contemplative texts tell of the utter dreadfulness that haunts both the human mind and body when the season of winter holds every living thing in its grasp. Winter is the time of utter gloom, enfeeblement and inescapable death, which challenges mankind, beasts and plants equally. Yet, as long as there is life, there is hope, and eventually a new era of the Sun will bring to an end the seemingly eternal darkness of winter. With the arrival of spring hope and life will flourish once more. It is a portrayal of this cyclical process of transformation that is as old as the history of mankind itself”.

Sweden’s SHINING is set to headline the “Razors Over Europe 2013 Tour” (a nod in the direction of the band’s 2007 tour “Razors Across Europe” with URGHEAL) which will take place over 17 dates during November and December of this year. Norwegian Black Metallers CREST OF DARKNESS, who, like management roster-mates SHINING, will be touring with a new album, and Swedish Thrashers STERBHAUS, are set to support the tour which is presented by Catapult Promotion. Routing confirmed so far for the “Razors Over Europe 2013 Tour” as follows:

SHINING is a band that needs no introduction, particularly to fans of Black Metal and DSBM, for whom NIKLAS KVARFORTH’s unruly child has been a yardstick for superb musicianship, skilled writing, and a complete disregard for the artificial rules placed on the genres by a generation of fans who only became aware of Black Metal long after the band was formed back in 1996. Never a band to stick to a repetitive formula when playing live, SHINING’s performances are emotionally charged and “of the moment”, with audiences always wondering what to expect next from one of the scene’s most dynamic frontmen. SHINING has a new full-length album, “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd”, due out on Dark Essence Records on the 23rd September, which features guest vocals from some of the elite of Black Metal including ATTILA CSIHAR (MAYHEM, TORMENTOR), MANIAC (SKITLIV, EX MAYHEM), GAAHL (GOD SEED, WARDRUNA, TRELLDOM, EX GORGOROTH),FAMINE (PESTE NOIRE) and PEHR LARSSON (ALFAHANNE, a track from which can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/shining-selvdestruktivitetens. More information about SHINING can be found at www.shiningasylum.com

A track from “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd”, the upcoming album from Sweden’s SHINING due to be released on Dark Essence Records, has been debuted today. Featuring songs dating back to the band’s “Livets Ändhållplats” and “Angst” era, “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” is a rare foray for the band, in that all the vocals on all the tracks, bar-one, are performed by vocalists specially chosen by SHINING founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth, with some being sung in the native languages of the guests taking part. “Selvdestruktivitetens Emissarie” the fourth track on the six-track album features Gaahl (GOD SEED, WARDRUNA, TRELLDOM, EX GORGOROTH ) on vocals and is currently being streamed by Metal Hammer, together with an interview with Niklas Kvarforth. It can be heard at http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/exclusive-shining-swegaahl-track-and-interview/

The tracks on “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” are in their original pre-production format, to which have been added newly recorded bass and guitars, as well as keyboards by Lars Fredrik Fröslie (ANGST SKVADRON, WOBBLER, ASMEGIN), whose sound is a realtively new addition to SHINING’s releases, not having been used before the band’s sixth album. Track listing and featured vocalists as follows:

“8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” will hit the streets on the 23rd September, and will be available both in CD and limited edition black or white 12” vinyl versions, with liner notes by Niklas Kvarforth. Artwork for the album is by Michal Pawlowski (miszaa.tumblr.com). All three versions are now available to pre-order from Dark Essence Records at http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/artist/shining.

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS has announced that it has inked a deal with Swedish rockers ALFAHANNE – a considerable achievement for the relatively young band as it takes its place amongst the well established, and in some cases legendary names that feature in the Norwegian label’s roster. All the more so when you consider that ALFAHANNE have been able to attract the services of TAAKE’s Hoest, SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, and HELHEIM’s V’gandr as guest artist on what will be the band’s debut full-length album which is set to hit the streets in January of next year.

Formed in 2010, ALFAHANNE’s debut release came in 2013 with the appearance of the “Grym” split 7” with Sweden’s SHINING. Playing what the band calls “Alfapocalyptic Rock”, which mixes Black Metal with Classic Rock and Punk, and topped off with some Goth influences, ALFAHANNE has created a style of music that is powerful and beautiful, yet ugly at the same time, and about which the band says: “When you are into it you don´t feel pleasure and you don´t feel pain but you definitely FEEL”.

Although ALFAHANNE itself might be a fairly new name to a lot of people, the band’s members, which include Pehr Skioldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass, have been around the Black Metal scene since the early ‘90’s, playing in bands like VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT. Skioldhammer in fact is one of the featured guest vocalists on the upcoming release from Niklas Kvarforth’s SHINING “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd”, which will be released on Dark Essence Records on the 23 September.

Commenting on the upcoming album and their collaboration with Dark Essence Records ALFAHANNE said: “The Mayan’s got it wrong about 2012, but we’re pretty sure we’ll be proved right when we say that the “Alfapocalypse” will happen in 2014 when the new album hits the streets. With ALFHANNE there is one way in and no way out”.

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS INKS DEAL WITH NORWEGIAN BLACK METALLERS SARKOM

Dark Essence Records have inked a two-album deal with Black Metallers SARKOM and will release the band’s third full length album, titled “Doomsday Elite”, later this year. Track listing for “Doomsday Elite” as follows:

1. Doomsday Elite

2. I Utakt Med Gud

3. No Loose Ends

4. Inside a Haunted Chapel

5. Predators in Disguise

6. Solemn Disorder ‘til Human Extinction

7. Cosmic Intellect

8. Stigma

Formed in 2003 in Oslo, Norway, by frontman Erik Unsgaard (SO MUCH FOR NOTHING) and then-drummer Eirik Renton (ex-URGEHAL), SARKOM, whose core members comprise Unsgaard on vocals and Sgt. V. (SVARTTJERN) on bass, will shortly present a new live lineup, ready for the release of “Doomsday Elite”, something Unsgaard is feeling very positive about. “Regarding our collaboration with Dark Essence Records”, the frontman said, “we are very much looking forward to working with everyone at the label. I’ve heard a lot of positive things, and hopefully they are in the right position to take SARKOM one step further on this journey of ours!”

Commenting on the new album and SARKOM’s place in the Black Metal scene, Unsgaard went on to say:

“It is said that black metal is about individuality and not following trends. I am not saying that SARKOM is a Black Metal band, but it sure is extreme enough and most likely that is how we will be categorised. Personally I don’t mind what label people tag us with, but with this album I can say that we have gone beyond the borders of what is accepted within the “scene”, at least the scene as defined by those who see themselves as “true”. According to the trend nowadays, which has absolutely nothing to do with what Black Metal is actually about, we should probably have played either old school heavy/prog or occult trash/black metal to gain maximum publicity. But fuck that. We do what we want and that’s exactly how it should be. We also have no intention of repeating ourselves and it is my hope, and intention, that SARKOM will keep developing in the future, in one way or the other. I am sure that some SARKOM fans are expecting another “Bestial Supremacy” and they will be surprised by “Doomsday Elite”. With four songwriters from different backgrounds this is, and is meant to be, an album without boundaries. Hopefully you will like it, but if not, you can always listen to Skyforger or something”.

More information about SARKOM can be found on the band’s Facebook page

The official video for “Inferior Bleeding” from SARKOM’s “Bestial Supremacy”

The long-awaited details about which vocalists would be featuring on “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd”, the new album from Sweden’s SHINING, have been announced today, and not unsurprisingly Niklas Kvarforth has chosen some of the most iconic frontmen from the Extreme Metal genre, as well as a some perhaps surprising choices, to take part in the project. Track listing on “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” and featured vocalists as follows:

The six songs on “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” date back to SHINING’s “Livets Ändhållplats” and “Angst” era and are in their original pre-production form, with the addition of newly recorded bass and guitars as well as Lars Fredrik Fröslie on keyboards (ANGST SKVADRON, WOBBLER, ASMEGIN), which the band didn’t start using until their sixth album. Set for release on DARK ESSENCE RECORDS on the 23rd September “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” will be available both in CD and limited edition black or white 12” vinyl versions, with liner notes by Niklas Kvarforth. All three versions are now available to pre-order from Dark Essence Records at http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/artist/shining.

SHINING founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth has wanted to do this project for many years now, and he allowed all the vocalists free reign to interpret the songs as they wished and also to sing in their own native languages. Something that Dark Essence’s Martin Kvam feels fits right in with the label’s ethos of mixing tradition with innovation. “With “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” SHINING has really encapsulated what we enjoy doing most as a label, looking back as it does to an earlier period, but with a completely fresh approach and different interpretation of what have now become classics in the field of Extreme Metal. SHINING fans are certainly not going to be disappointed when they hear what this album has to offer.”

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS is to release a new full-length album with Sweden’s SHINING to be titled “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd”. Today, we are proud to reveal the fantastic cover art for Feberdömmar by MICHAEL PAWLOWSKI (miszaa.tumblr.com).

Febardrömmar is set to appear on September 23rd. The album will be released in both CD and limited edition black or white 12” vinyl versions, with liner notes by Niklas Kvarforth. All three versions are now available to pre-order from Dark Essence Records at http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/artist/shining.

Whilst the use of the number 8 ½ may seem a little strange to denote what would effectively be a 9th full-length album from the band, its use is deliberate because “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” is a rather special beast from SHINING, consisting as it does of six songs from the “Livets Ändhållplats” and “Angst” era in their original pre-production versions but with the addition of newly recorded bass and guitars, as well as Lars Fredrik Fröslie’s keyboards (ANGST SKVADRON, WOBBLER, ASMEGIN) which the band didn’t start using until their sixth album.

Additionally, the vocals on each of the tracks will be performed by six different vocalists, including Kvarforth, who have added their own interpretation and given a totally different dimension to all the songs. It’s a project that the SHINING founder and frontman has now wanted to do for many years.

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS is set to release an album with different SHINING songs that hark back to an earlier era for the band. Rather than simply re-issue the original tracks, SHINING has decided not only to re-record the songs, but re-record them using a number of different vocalists. The album, which will be available in both CD and LP versions will be titled “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” and will appear in September of this year.

Commenting on the idea behind the album, SHINING founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth had this to say: “Some of you may remember that five years ago we revealed that we had plans to re-record our debut album and then have six different vocalists doing their own interpretations of the songs instead of merely having them singing on the already set paradigms. You may also be aware that recently we have been working extremely hard to reclaim our birthright by releasing older bootlegs through our web-shop in an effort to put an end to this fucking bootlegging bullshit that has been infecting our aura for as long as we’ve been around. So we thought that since the new SHINING full-length album is still in the making now would be the right time to combine a bit of both those projects.

“8 ½ – Febedrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” consist of six songs from the “Livets Ändhållplats” and “Angst” era in their original pre-production versions, with newly recorded bass and guitars on top and the malevolent brilliance of Lars Fredrik Fröslie’s keyboard magic, which sadly we didn’t start using until the sixth album. Six vocalists whom we all find both inspiring and “otherworldly” have blessed the album with their madness, some of them even in their native languages. At first, my initial thought was that it might turn out a bit too strange. But after hearing some of our classic songs in French, Hungarian and Norwegian I am certain the whole concept will please not only our loyal fan-base but even the contemptuous ones as well”.

Martin Kvam of DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, one of Norway’s leading Extreme Metal labels said: “We’re very pleased to be working with Niklas Kvarforth on this special SHINING release. DARK ESSENCE RECORDS have always aimed to work with both innovation and tradition in the extreme metal genre, and this release is a perfect example of that. “8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd” looks back, but at the same time, it also brings new life and new elements to these classic songs.”

SLEGEST, the solo project of former VREID guitarist Ese, has inked a deal with Dark Essence Records for the release of the band’s debut full length album. No release date has yet been set, but it is anticipated that the album will appear world-wide towards the end of 2013.

Formed in 2010, it was the intention of Ese to create Black Sabbath inspired music with harsh vocals. An idea he took further, developing SLEGEST into the entity it is today with its rock-orientated sound distinguished by a distinctive Black Metal edge. SLEGEST’s first release was the self-titled 2012 EP, which appeared as both a digital release and as a 7” vinyl on Ese’s own label Systrond Recordings. Work on writing new material for the as yet untitled debut full-length album began in 2012, and the drum tracks have already been laid down at the Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen, Norway.

Whilst many maintain that solo projects can be limiting, Ese sees things very differently. As SLEGEST’s man (and only) man explains: “When you have to play every instrument yourself it does impose certain limitations on what you can, and cannot, do. But I have always had a very definite vision as to how I want SLEGEST to sound, and these limitations are very positive for the fulfilment of that vision”.

Bergen-based DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, the Norwegian label whose roster features not only some of the most respected and long- standing Black and Extreme Metal artists in the business, but also some of the most talented upcoming bands, showcases no less than seven of its bands at this year’s Inferno Festival. One of Europe’s foremost music festivals Inferno takes place annually in Oslo, and this year runs for four days from the 27th to the 30th March http://www.infernofestival.net

Opening night of the festival, which is effectively the club night, sees four of the bands appearing at Blå. Post Rockers KRAKOW (http://www.krakowofficial.com/), whose critically acclaimed sophomore album “diin” was release in Autumn of last year, kick off the evening at 21:00, followed by Melodic Extreme Metallers COR SCORPII (http://www.corscorpii.net/), who are currently working on their next album. Third band on will be VULTURE INDUSTRIES (http://www.vulture-industries.net/ ), a band whose skilled interpretation of avant-garde extreme metal, coupled with the highly theatrical and manic performance of frontman Bjornar Nilsen, makes for a fascinating live show. Topping the bill will be HELHEIM (http://helheim.com/ ) one of the original Norwegian Viking Metal bands who celebrate their historical roots both in their music and in the visual effects used in their live performances, and who have been together for over twenty years. Information about how to get to Blå can be found at http://www.blaaoslo.no/

Thursday 28th sees another band celebrate its twentieth anniversary when TAAKE headlines on the Rockefeller stage at 23:00. TAAKE frontman HOEST will also be holding a signing session at 15:00 in the Shadowland record store (http://www.shadowland.no/), Torggata 36 (200 meters from the Rockefeller). Formed in 1993, TAAKE’s contribution to the Norwegian Black Metal Scene has been considerable; with founder Hoest remaining true to his Black Metal roots, whilst still being able to breathe life and originality into the genre even after twenty years. The band recently released “Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner” (Tombs, Crowns and Thrones), a double Anniversary CD which feature exclusive new tracks as well as rare and previously unreleased material, alternative versions of previously released tracks and recordings that have, until now, only been available on vinyl. More information about TAAKE at http://taake.svartekunst.no/

AETERNUS will hit the Rockeffeler stage on Friday 29th at 19:45, a few days in advance of the release of “…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth”, the band’s seventh full-length album. Founded in 1993 by guitarist and frontman Ares, AETERNUS has re-emerged seven years after the release of their last album “Hexaeon” with a new line up that comprises Ares on guitars and vocals, Phobos (GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) on drums and Specter on guitars. One of the pioneers of what the band calls “Dark Metal”, AETERNUS’ sound combines features from both Black Metal and Death Metal with superlative guitar playing and occasional haunting, melodic interludes. More information about AETERNUS can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Aeternusofficial

Saturday 30th, the last day of the festival, also sees the last of the DARK ESSENCE RECORDS bands to appear. HADES ALMIGHTY will play on the Rockefeller Stage at 19:45, and incidentally they were one of the bands who performed at the very first Inferno Festival in 2001. Apart from the occasional live appearance from the trio of Janto on Bass and Lead Vocals, Jorn on Guitars and Synth and Remi on Drums and vocals, things have been relatively quiet since the re-release in 2004 of their 2001 classic “The Pulse of Decay”, but the band has been busy behind the scenes working on the next album. More information about HADES ALMIGHTY can be found at http://www.hades-almighty.com/

DARK ESSENCE RECORDS have today debuted a track from the upcoming album from Norwegian Dark Metallers AETERNUS. The ten-track album, titled “…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth”, is set to hit the streets on the on the 22nd March in Norway and 1st April world-wide. “Ruin and Resurrect” the newly debuted track, can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records/aeternus-ruin-and-resurrect

“…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth”, which will be the band’s seventh full-length release, was produced by Bjornar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) at the Conclave and Earshot studios in Bergen. All music is by AETERNUS, concept and lyrics by HELHEIM’s V’gandr. The first pressing will include AETERNUS’ 1995 “Dark Sorcery” EP as a bonus. Track listing for “…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth” as follows:

1: There Will Be None
2: …And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth
3: Spurcitias
4: Ruin And Resurrect
5: The Confusion Of Tongues
6: Hubris
7: Reap What You Saw
8: Saligia
9: The Hand That Severs The Bonds Of Creation
10: The Spirit Of Illumination

AETERNUS’ line up is formed of guitarist and frontman Ares, who originally founded the band in Bergen in 1993, and Phobos (GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) on drums and Specter on guitars. One of the pioneers of what the band calls “Dark Metal”, AETERNUS’ sound combines features from both Black Metal and Death Metal with superlative guitar playing and occasional haunting, melodic interludes.

AETERNUS’ next live appearance will be at this year’s Inferno Festival in Oslo on the 29th March. More information about AETERNUS can be found on the band’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Aeternusofficial

The DARK ESSENCE RECORDS SoundCloud player contains tracks from all the label’s releases, including the newly debuted AETERNUS track. It can be found here:

Details of “…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth”, the new album from Dark Metallers AETERNUS, have just been revealed. The ten-track album, which will be the band’s seventh full-length release, will first appear as a limited edition which will include AETERNUS’ classic 1995 debut EP “Dark Sorcery” as a bonus, and is set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 18th March world-wide (except for Norway, Germany, Austria and Sweden where the album will appear on the 22nd March).

Formed in Bergen, Norway in 1993 by guitarist and frontman Ares, AETERNUS has re-emerged seven years after the release of their last album “Hexaeon” with a new line up that comprises Ares on guitars and vocals, Phobos (GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) on drums and Specter on guitars. One of the pioneers of what the band calls “Dark Metal”, AETERNUS’ sound combines features from both Black Metal and Death Metal with superlative guitar playing and occasional haunting, melodic interludes.

“…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth” was produced by Bjornar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) at the Conclave and Earshot studios in Bergen. All music is by AETERNUS, concept and lyrics by HELHEIM’s V’gandr. Artwork is by Timo Ketola, known for his work with bands such as for DEATHSPELL OMEGA, ASPHYX, DISSECTION MARDUK, WATAIN and OPETH amongst others, band photos by Christine Ristesund. The bonus EP, “Dark Sorcery”, was recorded, mixed and mastered by Cato Langnes at Hindu Lyd in 1995 and produced by Aeternus. Lineup on “Dark Sorcery” is Ares on guitars and vocals, Erik (Vrolok) on drums and Ørjan on bass. All music and lyrics by Ares.

Track listing for “…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth” as follows:

1: There Will Be None
2: …And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth
3: Spurcitias
4: Ruin And Resurrect
5: The Confusion Of Tongues
6: Hubris
7: Reap What You Saw
8: Saligia
9: The Hand That Severs The Bonds Of Creation
10: The Spirit Of Illumination

Having started the band way back in 1993, main man Hoest will celebrate 20 years of staying true to his musical identity by releasing a 20-song, 2 CD collection of TAAKE rarities. The anniversary album will be released on Dark Essence Records on the 1st of March in Norway and the 4th of March world-wide to coincide with a planned European tour which will herald the start of a year celebrating TAAKE’s unique contribution to Norwegian Black Metal.

Titled “Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner” (Burial Chambers, Crowns and Thrones), the release will not only feature exclusive new tracks, but also rare and previously unreleased material as well as alternative versions and recordings that have, until now, only been available on vinyl. “Et Pust av Oeyne”, a track from the album, has been debuted on the TAAKE SoundCloud page and can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/taake-official/taake-et-pust-av-oeyne

We’re really surprised and proud of the best of 2012 poll in Metal Hammer Norway. The staff at Metal Hammer Norway has gone through their favourite releases in 2012, and Krakow’s 2nd album, “diin”, ended up on 3rd place. So, a big thank you to Metal Hammer Norway for this!

Also, the band got a mention in the magazine’s “Band’s to watch in 2013” article, where Metal Hammer Norway suggests that Krakow’s sound would fit the National Opera House in Oslo. Well, to see Krakow play there, would be totally mindblowing!!

Thanks again for this Metal Hammer Norway, and we do hope that other magazines has some of the same sentiments towards Krakow and their album “diin”!

Earlier this autumn, Dark Essence Records, announced proudly the signing of Ukrainian band Rattenfänger! Now, the debut album “Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum” is finally out.

The band is a new project from the musicians behind cult acts like Drudkh, Old Silver Key, Blood of Kingu, Dark Ages and more, but Rattenfänger is a different beast entirely.

The debut album, entitled “Epistolae Obscurorum Virorum”, is a masterpiece of old-school death metal. Rattenfänger’s sound is pitch black and bone crushingly brutal. It is Death Metal in its original form – and it is devastating. Inevitably there will be nuances from the members other projects, and comparisons can also be made with bands such as Celtic Frost, early Darkthrone, Asphyx, Winter, Bolt Thrower and Nihilist amongst others, but Rattenfänger, is the epitome of old-school death metal and the album has its own, very distinctive, sound.

The name Rattenfänger is taken from the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin (Rattenfänger von Hameln), who was hired by the townsfolk of Hameln, Germany, to rid the town of the rats that had overrun it. Unfortunately he is deceived and cheated of his payment, and he exacts a dreadful revenge on the citizens. The lyrics are in Latin, written in style of medieval poets, thinkers and troubadours/minstrels.

We’re proud to announce today the signing of Bergen-based post-metal crew KRAKOW who have just recorded their 2nd full-length album, “diin”, with producer Iver Sandøy (TRINACRIA, MANNGARD). KRAKOW have taken a huge step forward and upwards with this beast of an album, creating a unique sound and atmosphere that is entirely their own, and we are very proud to have them on our label. “diin” is scheduled for release in September of this year.

Formed in 2005 by Frode Kilvik (bass, vocals), Kjartan Grønhaug (guitar) and René Misje (guitar, vocals) KRAKOW recorded their first three-track demo within a couple of months of being together and went on to release their “Dusty Roads” EP in 2007. The band’s debut album “Monolith” appeared in 2009. Initially drawing their inspiration from bands such as ISIS, NEUROSIS, IRON MAIDEN and MASTODON, KRAKOW have gone their own way, producing a sound that is at times dark, evocative and beautiful, at other times fast and aggressive or heavy and mesmerizing. It’s with difficulty that anyone can pin a genre on KRAKOW but the names most mentioned when talking about the band are post-rock, metal and stoner rock. KRAKOW’s line up was recently expanded to include drummer Ask Ty Arctander of KAMPFAR and MONDVOLLAND. More information about KRAKOW can be found here

Below you can see fan-filmed footage of KRAKOW performing the track “Mound” live at the Nouveau Casino in Paris in 2011.

With the MCD “Kveld” released in April as a taster for the band’s fifth full-length album “Noregs Vaapen”, and with the album itself hitting the streets on DARK ESSENCE RECORDS on the 20th September in Europe, and a release date set for the 1st November in the USA, TAAKE has today released a music video for a track from the album. Directed by Torgeir Ness Sundli, the video, for song “Nordbundet”, is a mix of live footage of the band interspersed with scenes of the countryside around TAAKE’s home town of Bergen, which have been filmed by founder and front man Hoest, who also produced the video. Audio production is by Bjornar E. Nilsen and the video debuts today on the website of the Norwegian Radio Station Pyro, at

“Noregs Vaapen” was a much anticipated release from the band that is now seen as one of the leaders of the Norwegian Black Metal scene. Whilst never losing TAAKE’s traditional sound and atmosphere with its icy riffs, its melodies redolent of Norway’s history, and distinctive vocals, Hoest has not hesitated to add a few twists that have taken everyone by surprise and kept the music fresh and original, including the use of the banjo on one track. The addition of guest appearances by some of Black Metal’s elite including Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE), Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Demonaz (IMMORTAL) and Skagg (GAAHLSKAGG, DEATHCULT) as well as producer and VULTURE INDUSTRIES front man Bjørnar E. Nilsen have added a further dimension to “Noregs Vaapen”.

TAAKE will celebrate the release of the album with a special live set at Det Akademiske Kvarter in Bergen on the 30th September, and will then head out for a European tour in October with fellow Bergen Blackened Metallers BYFROST and the UK’s DONN THE PHILOSOPHY. Tour itinerary, including newly confirmed dates as follows:

This unholy trinity spaning the width of the Dark Essence catalogue will hit the road for two exclusive european dates this October. The package will hit Festung Bitterfeld in Germany on Friday the 28’th where they will join forces with local thrashers Trimonium. For the following day, Phantoms Of Pilsen 5, a anual festival in Plzen in the Czech Republic is due for destruction. Here the bands will perform alongside bands like Dornenreich, Panychida and Agrypnie.Festung BitterfeldPhantoms of Pilsen 5